Research Question

Research Question Significance to field/subject Original, fresh Focused, specific Framed theoretically Structured as thesis to be supported by argument “Evidence” offered/close readings/concrete content

GROUP WORK, 187AA Idol: Aspects of excellence, 10 points 1. Original question /topic/concept: 2 2. Coherent, compelling development: 2 3. Evident collaboration, team work: 2 4. Confident presentation: 2 5. Use of arresting materials— props, visuals, costumes, film, video clips, music, multi-media support, etc: 2

PLACE/SPACE + ETHNICITY/COMMUNITY: Global, Local/ South + Profession, Class as Identity Formation Narrator’s Point-of-view, construction of character through dramatic action/conflict with Significant Others Compare identities in Chapters 11 & 12

Stereotypes of South: Negative Hillbilly, racist, underclass, conservative, militant, close communities, farmers, cowboy, big accent. not educated, sexist, Bible Belt, ignorant, close-minded, poor, white trash, everybody watches Hannah Montana, uneducated, intolerant, thick accents, trailers, eating strange animals/dishes, fried food, racist Confederates, impoverished, often hypocritical in their religious beliefs, judgmental, NASCAR, gun enthusiasts, close-minded, overweight/obese/unhealthy, language is very rough,, crazy, underclass, NRA, ignorant, war hawks, bigots, unworldly, small town, inbred, slow-minded, segregated, mostly white people, incestuous, hunters, gun enthusiasts.. alcoholics, anger problems, abuse, lazy, backwards, unhealthy, rigtht-wing, poor.

Positive stereotypes Southern hospitality, mostly white, Republicans, conservatives, big families, zealously religious, great food, good story tellers, skeptical, traditional, farm workers, Christian, good manners, Southern belles, drink a lot of tea, U.S. pride, friendly if they find you acceptable, loves music, BBQ, big families,

Stereotypes of Medical Profession Well educated, wealthy, well respected, knowledgeable, rich, compassionate, smart, brusque, old, high aned, important, nice/friendly, motivated by money, intelligent, high self esteem, analytical, overworked, cold, observant, caring, self-centered, self-important, career/$-driven, humanitarian, full of themselves, self-absorbed, high class, hard working, confident in own skills, always vacationing, hurried, often foreign, terse

Negative and positive stereotypes intertwined. good complex, workaholics, disciplined, bland, no social life, help to solve illnesses, stubborn in the MD position, disconnected, play golf, good for marrying, high personal values, fame-seeking, sometimes incompetent, trustworthy, upper class, non-family man, studious, self-centered, focused, put work before others/aspects, lost lots of sleep in the 20’s, know everything, unemotional, kind, snooty, messy handwriting, overworked, lots of school loans, don’t get to send a lot of time with family, ivory tower, unpersonable, hierarchical, caring or cold, rips off people, dedicated, wise, benevolent, jovial non-judgmental

Compare and contrast chs 11 & 12 New immigrant community—non-integrated, ascendant, capitalist-driven VS American-born downward mobility white community Analyze values through narrator’s POV (judgment, identification)

(Self)Segregation vs Integration? OR? • “The foreign doctors . . . well received. . . . the majority chose not to integrate with the community except at a superficial level” (22): integration through professional/institutional identities. • Rajani and I, perhaps because we were of a younger generation, traveled easily between these two worlds: the parochial world of Indians in America, and the secular world of east Tennessee” (23).

Two different but dialectical concepts and desires: mobility and belonging; also raced and sexed Diasporic and transnational subjects (the global); also unfixed sexuality and gender (the homosexual, transgendered) versus National and regional subjects (the local); also heteronormativity and married (regulated) sexuality

PLACE: space and time, geography and history • An imagined or constructed identity: the South, small town, big city (42, 60) • A site for identity formation--communal and individual: San Francisco, New York • Central and marginal places, public and private: churches, gay bars, homes (38-39) • Safe and dangerous places--unfixed, changing points-of-view (Johnson City, 70-72, 303--the closet)

Passages for close readings • Pages 44-46 • Pages 115-116

American regional identity: South Contrast with North East (Boston): 31-32 • Concrete in individual characters: Allen, 34-39 • Speech registers, idioms, 20, 36: mimicry, ventriloquism? • History: 39-40 • Food ways: 21 • Community values: :good ole boys,” 41-42

Professional Identity: ‘critique’ & performance of medical career/life Discuss p.22, 25, 31, 200, 271-2, etc Medicine and money/capitalism Patient-physician relationship Work-family balance

Significance of place/location for exile/expatriate/immigrant: unfixed, mobile origin toward “home” identity, belonging: 46 Transnational/metropolitan spaces for • 1. Multiple migrations, 14 • 2. Diasporic South Asian communities, 16, 200-207 • 3. US ethnic migrant labor force/professional, 18-19: race, class, and professional hierarchy: 205-206 • 4. Moment of “belonging”: 230-231

Intersection of gay identity and narrator’s “alien”identity location (place, sexuality, race, class) • “The Connection”: 56-57 • Boston gay bar experience:Gay culture /community, TAP: 188-199; 343. • Chapters 12 & 13: deaths • Chapter 14, 229, shift in identity • 60-61

AIDS distribution in the U.S. in 1996

Autobiographical pact/memoir: underlying thematics? • My Own Country in tradition of Mary Antin’s The Promised Land and other US immigrant/ Americanization narratives: • “Now that I had returned to America with my medical degree, a certain perverseness and contrariness made me want to buck this system. What was the point in coming to America if I wound up in a little Bombay. . . .? (19)) • Racial logic or Naturalization/ Americanization?

Research Question